Derleth Mythos Breakdown from Lovecraft is Missing

If you've ever sought a straightforward overview of the enduring controversy over H.P. Lovecraft's fiction and August Derleth's injection of his own ideas into the Cthulhu Mythos, then look no further than this new article from Lovecraft is Missing. The piece covers the strange case of the Cthulhu Mythos, from the promotion of the term by Derleth following Lovecraft's death to today's notions of what is meant by "Lovecraftian" and "Cthulhu Mythos." Derleth's alterations to the Mythos and the very idea of these words, for better or worse, still seem to comprise the outer ring of popular culture's understanding of Lovecraft.

This can be seen across the internet, as Cthulhu is held up (more often than not humorously) as a symbol of the ultimate cosmic evil, rather than an entity whose prime "evil" lays in extreme indifference to the puniness of mankind. The conscious malevolence of Cthulhu and other Old Ones is a predominantly a creature of Derleth's mind, not Lovecraft's.

Zealous readers of Lovecraft and the posthumous Cthulhu Mythos already know this dualistic introduction of good-evil into Lovecraftiana stemmed from Derleth, and many of these same readers seek newer Mythos works that consciously seek to omit Derlethian good and evil. However, few followers of Lovecraft's life and literary career can fail to note the hefty role played by Derleth and company after HPL's death in promoting his fiction to a wider audience--a point of order Derleth's crusaders use as the basis for defending him today. This debate may sound arcane and confusing to the newly or little initiated in the world of Lovecraft and broader weird fiction. Fortunately, the article at Lovecraft is Missing effectively spells out the historic actions that sparked this debate. So, head over for a breakdown of the facts, whether you're looking at them for the first time or just seeking a refresher.

-Grim Blogger